Moment ‘traumatised’ golden retriever is rescued by hero RNLI volunteers after being swept out to sea
A three-year-old golden retriever has been rescued by heroic RNLI volunteers after becoming ‘spooked’ and getting quickly swept out to sea.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers in Porthcawl, South Wales, were called to urgently assist Seren who had drifted out to sea after darting out of her owner, Andrea Phillips’, car boot towards Newton Beach on Saturday afternoon, February 1.
Having been rescued by Andrea Phillips and her husband Richard just five weeks prior, Ms Phillips described Seren as a ‘traumatised’ dog who was only just beginning to get accustomed to regular beach walks.
Reflecting on the terrifying ordeal, she said: ‘On Saturday we were planning to go out with her and had carefully placed her in the car boot when she seemed calm.
‘As we clicked the key to close the car boot we think the noise must have spooked her because she leapt out and immediately, running across the dunes and down onto the beach.’
After Seren started running towards the coast at an increasingly fast pace, Ms Phillips said she became ‘panicked’ due to being unable to keep up with her.
When a fellow dog walker, Josh, made a failed attempt to try and get a hold of the fast-moving animal, he shouted to Ms Phillips to call the Coastguard.
Ms Phillips, who said she ‘feared the worst’ for her beloved dog, added: ‘Admittedly I don’t always carry my mobile phone on me, but I was so grateful it was in my pocket and I could make that 999 call.
Three-year-old golden retriever Seren drifted out to sea after darting out of Andrea Phillips’ car boot towards Newton Beach on Saturday, February 1 (Pictured: Ms Phillips and Seren)
The crew at Porthcawl Lifeboat Station quickly ascended onto the scene where they found Seren near Newton Point, around 300m from the shore (Pictured: RNLI crew rescuing Seren)
The ‘exhausted’ pup had been swept further and further out to sea by the strong tidal current but was found ‘a little shaken but otherwise unharmed’ by Porthcawl RNLI Helm Chris Missen
‘The person on the phone was brilliant at keeping me calm, but I was losing faith as we could no longer see Seren, she’d swum so far out and I feared the worst.’
The crew at Porthcawl Lifeboat Station quickly ascended onto the scene in a Atlantic 85 lifeboat Rose of the Shires where they found Seren near Newton Point, around 300m from the shore.
The ‘exhausted’ pup had been swept further and further out to sea by the strong tidal current but was found by Porthcawl RNLI Helm Chris Missen ‘a little shaken but otherwise unharmed’.
Ms Phillips added: ‘I honestly can’t thank the volunteer RNLI crew enough for saving Seren. They turned a nightmare into a dream.
‘It was like something out of a movie seeing the crew member in their kit carrying Seren from the lifeboat through the shallows.
‘I also want to thank the fellow dog walker Josh, for all his help and quick thinking to make the 999 call to the Coastguard. And to everyone else on the beach that helped us that day.
‘I now really understand the importance of having a means of calling for help and if my story can help others I want to get the message out there.’
Mr Missen said: ‘Andrea did the right thing by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.
Ms Phillips said she ‘feared the worst’ for her beloved dog, who she had lovingly rescued just five weeks prior
Ms Phillips described Seren as a ‘traumatised’ dog who was only just beginning to get accustomed to regular beach walks
In 2022, the RNLI rescued 164 dogs from around the UK’s coastline, including from the waves. They advise that owners remain cautious when walking their dogs along beaches
‘We were delighted to be able to rescue Seren and reunite her with Andrea and family. A heartwarming ending for our first rescue of the year.
‘When it comes to dogs in the water our safety advice is to never enter the water after your dog, as you could end up in difficulty yourself. Instead dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’
Entirely ran by volunteers, the RNLI provide, on call, 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue services, alongside a seasonal lifeguard service.
In 2022, the RNLI rescued 164 dogs from around the UK’s coastline, including from the waves, with the charitable service continuing to advise that owners remain cautious when walking their dogs along beaches.
